Switch



Feb. 3. 1925.

C. CHRISTENSE N SWITCH Filed Nov 20, 1920 -2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb.1,524,911

' c. CHRISTENSEN SWITCH Filed Nov. 20, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet z PatentedFeb. 3, 1925.

UNITED STATES CHRISTEN CHRISTENSEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TOELECTRICAL ENGI- PATENT OFFICE.

NEERS EQUIPMENT COMPANY. OF CHICAGO. ILLINOIS, A CORPORATON OF ILLI-NOIS.

SWITCH.

Application filed November 20, 1920. Serial No, 425,325.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRIsTEN CHRISTEN- SEN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inSwitches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification.

The present invention relates to switches, and embodies improvementsupon the type of switch disclosed in my co-pending appli cation, SerialNo. 301,718, filed J une 4, 1919, which has resulted in Patent No.1,394,968 of October 25, 1921, and in the co-pending applicationof'Ernest H. Jacobs, Serial No.

381,235, filed May 14, 1920.

The present switch is particularly adapted for outdoor work and itoperates on the air-brake principle.

This means that the switch must be capahie of withstanding weatherconditions and the rough usage incidental to this type of mechanism. Thecontacts are subject to greater wear and punishment than is the case ofoil switches. In order to carry a heavy current large areas of contactmust he provided and the parts become quite heavy and are oftendifiicult to start, because of the large static friction.

However, an air-brake switch should be operated rapidly to insurebreaking of the are as soon as possible.

The present type of mechanism is designed to meet these contradictoryrequirements.

In my co-pending application above referred to, I have disclosed a novelform of switch operating mechanism comp-rising a series of linksembodied in a closed polygonal figure and designed to impart a varyingratio of force and velocity to the switch blades in their actuatingmotion. The

' theory of this variable ratio motion is to exert, during the initialopening motion of the switch blades, a powerful leverage of large forcemoment on the switch blades to overcome the static friction of theswitch, and to impart, during the remaining pormechanism has been shownas devised for the operation of double throw switches."

In the present invention I have disclosed a modified arrangement of thisprinciple of switch operating mechanism, this arrangement beingparticularly designed for certain situations wherein a particular degreeand character-of switch opening motion is desired. More specifically,one of the objects of the invention is to provide a construction ofswitch operating-mechanism which will produce a maximum length of strokeof the switch blade in its switch openingmotion. A further object is toprovide a construction of switch operating mechanism which will producea constant or a continuously, accelcrating motion of the switch blade,at a relatively high velocity, from the moment the switch blade breakscontact with its contact terminal until it reaches the outer limit ofits arc-extinguishing throw. This increased stroke of the switchbladeand the constant or continuously accelerating character of itsmotion are of particular advantage inthat they tend to more quickly andeffectively quench the are which is drawn. In this regard, they are ofparticular importance in double throw switches inasmuch as they affordgreater assurance that in throwing the movable switch element from oneset contact terminals to the other the are which is drawn from the firstset of terminals will be completely extinguished before the movableswitch element makes electrical connection with the other set ofterminals. These characteristics of greater throw of the switch bladesand constant or continuously accelerating'motion thereof are attained inthe present arrangement of the links without reducing in any degreetheleverage or mechanical advantage of the mechanism in the openingactuation of the switch blades.

A further object in'the present invention is to provide animprovedconstruction of high tension double throw switch in cooperativeassociation with the above switch operating mechanism.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which an illustratedembodiment of my invention is shown:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my improved switch;

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the same;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the polygonal series oflinks; and

Figure 4 is a similar view of a modified arrangement of the links.

The switch-'llustrated is of the horizontal type of. double throwswitch, but it will of course be obvious that the invention hasapplicability to a vertical type of switch as well. The switch is oftriple pole or three phase construction and is mounted upon threeparallel channel irons 5 which are mounted horizontally on the, pole orswitching tower, or which may comprise part of the switching towerstructure. The three individual units on the three channels 5 areidentical in construction and operation, and I shall therefore describeonly one of these units in detail. I

Referring to Figure 1, at the ends of the channel 5 are supportedvertical insulators 6 and 7 which have their bases mounted in insulatorclamps 8 and 9 which are secured to mounting pedestals 10 and 11 on thechannel member. Insulator clamps 12 and 13 are secured upon the upperends of the insulators 6 and 7 and upon these .clamps are sup orted thecontactt-erminals 14 and 15. Re erring particularly to the left handterminal 14,-each contact terminal comprises a horizontal plate 16having an upstanding terminal lug 17 on each side of which is provided aguid the cooperating, switch blade into over the terminal 17. The outeren osition of the plate 16 is bent upwardly to support the inj clinedarcing horn 19. The ends of the transmission lines have connection with.

Midway between the insulators 6 and .7, is mounted a central insulator23, which has support in an insulator clamp 24 secured to a mountingpedestal 25, as described of the other insulators. The insulator clamp26 on the upper end of the central insulator 23 supports the hingeterminal 27 to which are hinged the two switch blades 28 and 29. Theblade 28 is arranged to contact only with its individual contactterminal 14 and the blade 29 with its individual terminal 15; as aresult of which the'angular throw required in swinging the movableswitch element from one set of terminals to the other is considerablyreduced. Each blade illustrated e member 18 for guiding eeann 28 29 ispreferably built up of a pair of spacedblades which are trussed forgreater strength and rigidity. The two lateral blades of the blade unit28 have pivotal mounting between a pair of spaced pivot lugsconstituting the upper end of the hinge terminal 27 and the two lateralblades of the blade unit 29 have concentric pivotal mounting with theblade unit 28 on theoutsides of these spaced pivot lugs. ()n the outerends of the blades 28 and 29 are -mounted sleet hoods 33, which areadapted burning of the terminal lugs Jand" blades. The outer end of eacharcing tip 34"is;.conformed to embrace and haveguiding engagement. withits corresponding arcing horn while the switch .bladeismbving intoposition, the tip beingyieldably pivoted so that it may fold upwardlyinto the position when the blade is in closed position.

The three poles ofj' the switch are simultaneously operablef from zapoint at the base of the switching'tower' or.pole through the medium ofanoperatingjdever 36 which is pivoted in the slot of afforked bracket 37mounted on;- the tower structure or pole,

The lever-'36, has pivotalicon'nection to a vertical operating rod 38{through a link 39. The link 39 is curved. in siicha manner as to.enableflit flto. engage aroundthe pivotal centerof thei operating lever36 when the sameis swung .4downwardly', "whereby the operating leveremaybe swung through approximately 180 degrees of motion. In this mannertheoperating lever 36 is made self locking in either its upper or lgwerposition by virtue ofthe fact that it revolves the pivotal connectionwith the rod, 38 over center, e. into or past the vertical planeextending through the rod. The upper end ing tip 34 and horn 19 sothatthere is no of the operating rod 38 has pivotal connectio'n through alink 41 with'the end of an arm 42 which is. rigidly mounted on ahorizontahoperating shaft 43. The shaft 43 extends transversely of theswitch mechanism across the tops of the channels 5, and has bearingsupport in bearings 44 on these chan- I nels. Mounted uponthe shaft 43,substantially in the planeof each pole unit of the switch are arms-45which have pivotal con- ,nection with .upwardly extending stems-46.

Each stem 46 supports a separate operating insulator 47 for operatingthe movable switch element of its individual pole. The insulator 47 hasmechanical connection at, its upper end with the improved link mecha-.nism of its particular pole unit through "pivot center 53 is situatedbelow the pivot an insulator clamp 48 which is provided with aprojecting pivot lug 49. The improved link mechanism has pivotalconnec-' (ion with this pivot lug for operation, thereby, in amanner'which I shall now describe.

The link mechanism comprises a curved lever or arm 51 which is widenedoutwardly and slotted centrally as indicated at 52 to engage over thehinge terminal lug 27. The lever 51 is pivoted to this hinge terminalupon a pivot pin 53 which is extended through the hinge terminal andthroughthe sides of thelever which embrace the terminal. It should beparticularly noted that this pin 50 on which the blades 28'and-29 arepivoted. The extending ends of the curved lev'er'51 form coo-peratlngarms 54 and 57, one arm for each of the switch blades 28 and 29. Theright-hand arm 54. of the lever is formed with an upturned, end 55.whichf is rounded and so positioned with respect to the switch blade 29that it will be operable to engage said switch blade and func tion asablade opening shoe in the initial; motion of the link mechanism. Thepivot lug 49 on the top of the insulator clamp 48 has pivotalconnectionfwiththis right hand arm below-the curved end. 55 ';at thepivot 56. The, left-hand arm 57.."ofthe curved lever 51 is "providedwith a similarly upturned end 58 at substantially the same radius as theend-"'55, for "engaging with theunder side of the Switchblade 28 forinitiatingits opening movement. The two' i ot the diagonal. strut orlink '61, which is blades 28 and 29 are rigidly connected together atthe angle illustrated so astoform a unitary switch "element by theprovision represents substantially the etfective lever;

arm through which the arcextinguishing' motion will be imparted to theswitch blades, and it should be particularlynoted that, by reason of theraised positiou'of the-pivot above the plane of the switch blade 29,this effective lever arm will either remain constant or diminish ratherthan increase 'withthe upward stroke of the switch blade.

Whether the effective lever arm; will remain constant or willdim'inishwill be dependent upon the position of thepivot 65 along the diagonalstrut 61, as will be presently apparent."

I shall now describe the operation of the switch, making-particularreference to Figurej3 to diagrammatically illustrate theaction-fofthe'link mechanism, Upon swin 'ing the operating lever 36downward it will be apparent that the leverage of the .lever 36 willbedirectly effective against the under side of 'theswitch blade29fthrough' the'en gagement of the shoe" end 55 therewith.

,7 During this part of the motion the lever arm '45 on the operatingshaft43' oper ating through (a comparatively short, powcrful lever arml'"Similarly, *the leverage. of

paratively short, powerful lever arm. The

. the lever 36 is operating through a commaximum mechanical advantage;of the operating-mechanism is thus immediately effective during theinitiaLpart of the blade ,1noven1ent, and as a consequence the staticfriction and inertia of the. movable switch element areeasily overcome.It isfonly necessarythat'this maximum efiort be exerted on the movableswitch, element during such time as the movable switch element isbreaking triction'al contact with the terminal lug,

and [during this'part of the, throw .the multiplying action: of thelink, mechanism ,is.

substantially non-effective, by reasori of the r slight play which'willfalwa'ys} exist between the pivoted links. If desired,additionalplay maybe provided for by slotting certain It will ,be notedthat. the system of each oflthese polygonal figures, there are two'moving j. pivots and: two stationary ipi'vots', the link mechanismhaving its sittingg. motion .abbht-fthese. two stationary.

of,.the pivot connections, such as at the pivot 65.

links for each of the switch blades defines 1 a four-sided polygonalfigure, as indicated 105 bytheldash' and dot lines in Figure 3. In

pivots. Inf-the'jsystem of links for the righthand side of the switch,the two pivots 50 pivots of thev gure,-'and the pivot-"pins 56 and 65correspond to the two 'moving pivots.

The .portionjofjhinge terminal between the stationary pivots 50 and 53corresponds to a stationary link a; the curved arm between the ivots .53and 56. corresponds to ajfirst togg e linkb; the link 64 bet-ween .thenow' ing pivots'56 and 65 corresponds'to-ajsee I on'd toggle jlink '0;and the 'radial -linelbetween the pivots '65 and 50 correspondsitoa-switch operating'link or lever arm-r. The

ivot 65 moves through the are 8. "As hereinbefore remarked, it is of vparticular note that the pivot 'l 65 is located at an ele'vated pointabove the lane of the switch blade 29,611 such .positlon thatfwhen theswitch" blade is in closed position the lever arm 1' is Thus an endwisethrust is imparted to the link 0." To this is added the toggle motionincident in bringing the lower end of the link 64 up into more'of ahorizontal position, the two thrusting the pivot 65 to the left with arapid motion of considerable amplitude. At the beginning of the arcextinguishing throw the pivot 65 is in position corresponding tosubstantially maximum length of lever arm 1', with respect to thisdirectiontof endwise thrust from the link '0. However, as the pivot 65revolves to the left anddown on the other side of the vertical centerline, the effective lever arm through which the linkc imparts its motionto the switch blades decreases to a slight extent. The presentembodiment illustrates this decrease I in lever arm as beingcomparatively small, and if desired, the position of the pivot65 may beso adjusted as to maintain the effective lever arm substantiallyconstant throughout the entire stroke of the switch blade. This questionof having a decreasing or substantially constant lever arm is dependentupon certain conditions such as the desired stroke or throw of theswitch, the weight of the movable switch element, the speed of throw,etc. These conditions may be met by the proper location of the pivotalcenters of the inner ends of the links 64 and 67 along the strut 61. Forexample, if a more constant length of efiective lever arm is desired fora substantially uniform velocity of arc-extinguishing throw this isobtained by pivotally mounting the inner ends of the links 64 and 67 onindependent pivots which are spaced sufficiently apart along the strut61 to maintain a substantially uniform length of lever arm between thelimits of the throw.' On the other hand, if a continuous, rapid decreaseof lever arm is desired for a continu ous, rapidly accelerating,arc-extinguishing throw, this is obtained by overlapping the ends of thelinks 64 and67 and pivoting these ends at remote points along the strut61, such as even at the points 62-62 as I shall presently describe. Itis within the scope of my invention to so pivot the ends of these linksas to obtain any of these desired characteristics of switch blademotion. Referring again to the operation of the arrangement illustrated,it will be apparent that concurrently with the decrease in efi'ectivelever arm of the link or arm 1 the horizontal component of motion of thepivot 56 (represented in the entirety at it) continuously increases, andas a result of this increasing rate of motion of the link 0 and'thedecreasing length of'effective lever arm through which it works on theswitch blades, a .continuously accelerating motion of the switch bladesis obtained, this continuing until the blades are arrested by the"beforecontact ismade with the other set of terminals. The areinterrupting action is also assisted by the large extent of bladeopening which is secured by the present arrangement of the links. Thelocation of the pivot 65 above the plane of the switch blade 29 andcomparatively close to the pivot permits of a relatively long link (2,and the stroke ofthe blade is thus increased by the more effectivetoggle action of the links 6 and c. Referring again to the operation,when the multiplying motion of the links begins to accelerate the switchblade 29, the latter 1 moves away from engagement with the switchopening. shoe so that the shoe 55 does not assist any further in theopening motion but merely trails the blade into open position, asillustrated of the'shoe 58 and blade 28. As the one blade 29 moves intoopen position, the other blade 28 moves concurrently into closedposition into contact with the contact terminal 14. The link mechanismfor this side of the switch then assumes the relation just described ofthe right-hand link mechanism and upon the downward motion of theoperating insulator 4'8 in making a return throw'of the switch, thislink mechanism on the left side of the switch will exert a large openingforce on the switch blade 28 and will thereafter accelerate the arcinterrupting throw of the switch blade 28 in the identical manner justdescribed of the blade 29. It will be noted that the weight of eachswitch blade decreases as the blade rises to open position, and that theblades tend to balance each other to a certain extent. This. assists theswitch operating mechanism in producing the high speed motion abovedescribed.

As I have hereinbefore stated, it is within illustrated the links 64 and67' as having; their innerends overlapped and'pivotally connected to thepins62-62. This arrange:

'- lever arm at the beginning of the stroke is ment is designed to givea rapidly decreasing length of effective lever arm with the result hatthe arc-extinguishin throw has a rapidly accelerating action. he initialeffective indicated at r. and at the end of'the stroke is indicated atr". From'this it will be seen that by the proper location of the pivotsfor the inner ends of the linksf64 and 67 any desired action-ofleve'rarm maybe obtained for any desired-character of arc extinguishing throw.

tails herein shown and described except as they are defined in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In anelectrical switch," the combination i of contact terminals, amovable, switch" element, and switch operating'mechanism com prisingmeans exerting 'arelatively large force upon said movable switchelementfdu'ring'tlie initial part of its motion, and a relatively largevelocity during the remainingpart of its motion, said j switch operatingmechanism imparting a high'velocity motion to said movable switchelement through an eflective lever arm of'non-increasin length.

2. In an electrical switch, the com ination of contact terminals,a"movable switch ele:

ment cooperating therewith, and switch operating mechanism comprising aseries of links operating to exert an opening efi'ort on said movableswitch element of large force and small velocity and to impart an arcextinguishing motion of relatively high velocity to said movable switchelement after said opening motion, said series of links imparting saidare extinguishing motion to said movable switch element through a leverarm of non-increasing efi'ectivelength.

3. In an electrical switch,- the combination of contact terminals, amovable switch element, a switch operating member, means for impartingthe operating motion of said" member directly to said movable switchelement during theinitial motion of breaking contact, and a series oflinks connecting sald switch operating member and said movable switchelement, said series of links thereafter imparting a multiplied motionto said movable switch element, said series of links impartin 4. In anelectrical switch, the combine motion to said movableflswitchelement trough a lever arm of diminishing for producing a continuously of linkscomprising a ifirst link connected to said operating member ;and'having. station Y ary pivotalsupport eccentric to the: pivotalmountingof said: switch blade, "a-second link pivotall'y' ,connectedatone end, to said. operatingmemb'er, and means pivotally connecting.

the other endfof said second link'tosaid. .switch,blades,fsaid se'condlink'being pivoted. g

to Said n c i g f Bans at a point laterally of said Switchblade, Y

5. In an nea s-a1 switch, aisasham- I of a contact terminal, .afswitchblade 00- I operating therewith, a first stationary pivot about whichsaid switch'blade. is adapted to swing, a second stationary fpivot, ,alink I p pivotally mounted thereo-ma first',-movin .I do not intend tobe limited to the .de-'

pivot moving with said link, ajs'econd l' pivotally. mountedon said[first moving pivot, a second moving pivot pivotally jcon- -necting saidsecond link with said switch blade, operating. means for actuating 1said links, said second moving pivot substantially defining the leverarmflfor transmitting motion to said switch blade,,said second movingpivot being disposed whereby said leverrarm will decrease in effectivelength during open ing motion of said switch blade.

6. In a-double throw switch, the combi-i nation of a pair of contactterminals, an in-' dependent switch blade cooperating with each of'saidcontact. terminals, each of said switch blades havingconcentric pivotalmounting, said switchbl'ades being' rigidlyconnected together at anangle, switch operating mechanism comprising -means for exerting: arelatively large efi'ort upon said switch bladesduring the initial. partof their opening motion and a relatively lar e velocity durin theremaining part of. their. are extinguishin' 'motion, said switchoperating mechanism aving operative connection-with said switchblades ata point 7 intermediate the two of said blades.

7. In a double throw switch, the combination of a pair of contactterminals, an intermediate 1 hinge terminal, a pair of switch bladespivoted to saidhinge terminal,a diagonal member rigidly connecting saidblades together at an angle, aswitch operating member adapted to exert alarge opening etl'ort directly upon said switch blades in breakingcontact with said contact.

terminals, link mechanism operatively connecting said switch operatingmemberwith said blades for multiplying'the. further motion of saidswitch operatlng tmember, said links comprising a first linklvoted'eccensaid switch operating'member, and a sectrio to said switchblades an connected to.

first link and said diagonal member between the switchbla'des.

8.In a double throwswitch, the combination of a pair of contactterminals, an intermediate hinge terminal, a first stationary center insaid hinge terminal, a pair of 'switch blades pivoted on said center, a

diagonal member rigidly connecting said blades together at a V-anglep asecond stationary center below saidfirststationary center, a leverpivoted centrally on said second stationary center, a pair of links eachpivoted at one end tothe ends of said lever,

the other ends of said linksha'ving pivotal connection with saiddiagonal member betweensaid switch blades, said lever comprising meansadapted to engage directly with said switch blades for exerting arelativelylarge opening effort on said blades while breakingcontact withsaid contact terminals, and aswitch operating member for actuating saidlever.

9'. In an electrical switch, the combination of a contact terminal, aswitch blade cooperable therewith, a' stationary pivot switch bladeoperative -to"connect said ter-' minals, a'switch" operating memberadapted to apply a relatively slowpowerful effort to the switch blade 1nthe contact-breaking motion thereoffall inkfor transmitting anaccelerated arc-eXtinguishing motion to 'nal for contact with saidcontact terminal,

said switch blade thereafter, a pivot swinging with said switch blade,said link being; connected to said pivot at one end and 'havingoperative connection at the other end with said switch operating member,said" pivot being disposed whereby the effective radius line from thepivotal centerofsaid switch blade to the force line through said link isof non-increasing length.

11. In an electrical switch, the combina tion of a hinge terminal,acontact terminal, a switch blade pivoted on said hinge termia switchoperating member adapted to exert a relatively powerful opening forceupon said switch blade during the contact-breaking mot-ion thereof,means for transmitting an accelerated arc-extinguishing throw from saidmember to said switch blade after breaking contact, said means comprising a switch operating pivot swinging con centrically with said switchblade, a second pivot moving with said switch operating member, a linkextending between said pivots, said switch operating pivot beingdisposed whereby the radius arm from the force line between said pivotstothe pivotal center of said switchblade is of diminishing radius duringa predetermined part of the arc-extinguishing throw.

12. In an electrical switch, the combinationof a contact terminal, ablade cooperable therewith, a pivot for said blade, blade operatingmeans including-an arm pivoted eccentric to the blade pivot, and a pairof links pivoted to the'blade and said arm, respectively, and to eachother laterally of the blade.

In witness whereof I hereuntosubscribe my name this 22nd day of October,1920.

CHRISTEN CHRISTENSEN.

